Vince Sweater, Rag & Bone Jacket, Abercrombie Faux Leather Pants, Mason by Michelle Mason Coat, Loefller Randall Coat
Christmas has long been my favourite time of the year. As someone who loves baking, hosting, gifting and socializing, there are few times of year that encompasses all of those amongst sparkling lights and glittering trees. I started hosting Christmas get togethers in University, amassing a fabulous collection of holiday appropriate dishware, decorations that still make me smile, and memories that will last a lifetime. Around the time I had my babies there were some big changes that followed, and between all of life’s challenges, hosting and participating in Christmas activities fell away. I have to say, when Covid hit and everyone was staying close to home, it sadly didn’t feel much different than how isolating my life had become in the previous years. This holiday season has been the first in years that we attended work parties, broke bread at gatherings in friend’s and family’s homes, and got to be in attendance at a couple of holiday performances. It has been absolute magic, and the best is still yet to come (barring the colds we currently have hit the curb, stat). Christmas Eve and Day, as well as a trip up to the lake to celebrate with my family will be the proverbial icing on the cake of an amazing season.
It can be so challenging dressing for the holidays with the weather in Calgary. Whether it be an outing to the theater, an outdoor Christmas market, or wine and cheese at home, when you’re possibly dealing with flurries and temps feeling like -42 degrees Celsius you have to layer up. Leather or faux leather instantly elevates an outfit, giving it a holiday feel. Adding just a pop of festiveness, such as a plaid, a pop of red or green, or a sequin and sparkle, mixed in with your winter neutrals is such an easy recipe to navigate the holidays without feeling like you need an entire new wardrobe. Since I haven’t been to a Christmas party in ages, I was tempted to run out and buy something new, but truly, buying something to wear for a single event or season just isn’t my jam these days. Digging deeper and mixing some older pieces alongside some more updated items, such as these faux leather cropped pants paired with my almost 10 year old plaid Rag & Bone jacket was the perfect solution. Bonus is I don’t have another item that I’ll never wear again hanging in my closet. That’s a holiday win.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
H&M Hoodie, Abercrombie Denim, Aritzia Coat, Reebok Sneakers, Louis Vuitton Tote
I can’t believe it’s already December. We spent most of the month of November battling illness after illness, much like so many of you. I’m crossing all fingers, toes and limbs that the kids can hold off on another round until after the holidays. For the first time in years we have had Christmas activities on the books. Fun moments like holiday parties, Christmas performances, and family and friend get-togethers, and my gosh, how I have missed these sorts of activities.
I wear this look or a version of this look more often than you can make me admit to. If I could wear a sweatsuit every day in the winter I would, but when I do don denim, I’m apt to pair it with something comfy up top, and/or below. In Calgary we’re not blessed with many days that you can wear your favourite sneakers in winter, between the fresh snow and the melting slush, but when you can, I often do. If you’ve bought cropped straight leg denim, which was so easy to pair with flats and sandals in the summer, and have been struggling with how to style them in the colder temps, fear not. Pairing your sneakers, chunky loafers, and ankle Uggs with white crew socks keeps those ankles warm while still looking chic. Win-win.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
AGOLDE Denim, Zara Blazer, Mason Turtleneck, Vince Chelsea Boots, Chanel Handbag
What a ride this Fall has been so far. It was an autumn dreams are made of, beautiful weather well into October, which is so unusual for Calgary. Then the snow and cold hit, and hit hard. The past three weeks our household has been fighting every illness out there. Colds, stomach flu, coughs, intense fevers, all have made their way through here. I feel like I haven’t been able to start thinking about the holiday season. Last year my tree was up November 12th, and this year, the mere thought of how much work it is to get everything unpacked and up is enough for me to put it off indefinitely. Truly hoping for a holiday season filled with good health, friends and family. And if we’re being honest, a weekend to myself. Alone. By myself.
Like many of you I’ve been struggling with what to wear day to day. Since social media and trends have dictated much of what I own “out of style”, it’s been overwhelming. (Side Note: I don’t agree with the drastic opinion on what is ‘out’ since we emerged from 2020. There are many items in my closet that are deemed ‘out’ that I’m still wearing, loving and feeling fab in). Since many of us can’t run out and completely revamp our wardrobes, I’ve been slowly updating by adding in pieces that will hopefully last a few seasons. Oversized blazers, straight leg denim, and classic/basic tops, all in neutrals that can be worn together. I’m not in a season of life where I can purchase items that will only last a single season, or that I’ll only wear a couple of times. Anything coming in needs to be a workhorse, pulling double duty at all times. This ensemble is an example of what I would reach for on the regular. For a day out by myself running errands I would switch to a sneaker and tee and keep the blazer and denim. For a girls night out I would add a cropped faux leather pant and pump and keep the blazer and turtleneck. That’s what we call double duty.
Abercrombie Dress, Charlotte Olympia Pumps, Escada Handbag
10 years ago I pressed Publish on the very first blog post of Centre Street Style. I remember every detail leading up to the moment like it was yesterday. I recall jumping the fence to the golf course with the photographer of my blog, my big brother, to get that very first fashion shot. I remember whipping up a batch of cookies and setting the table as a preview to what sorts of things would be featured on my site. Over the years there has been fashion inspiration, beauty tips, recipes shared and entertaining, my goodness was there entertaining. The beginning was chaotic, eventually I followed an editorial calendar and we had an amazing system for the fashion photos. There was nothing better than pressing Publish for the newest post to go live.
Starting the blog gave me a sense of purpose and the authenticity of what I put out there resonated with many of you. The dreams I had of starting a boutique upon returning to Calgary from Vancouver slipped away, and contributing in some small way to the fashion realm online really filled a void. I started off strong, posting 4-5 days a week, attending blogging conferences in New York and LA, growing my readership, securing partnerships, and then life happened. Divorce, pregnancy, babies, postpartum, financial loss, loss of my support system, and marriage again. Much of the past few years has been lived in anxiety and survival mode, which doesn’t grant time for creativity. It was always hard to know what to share publicly and what to keep private, and as a private person, I’ve kept the struggle to myself.
I could have never started this without the true talent, who came along for the ride, was always up for the shoot, who put in hours and hours and hours of unpaid work into the photos for the blog, 4-5 days a week in the beginning. He was a huge sounding board for ideas, locations for shooting, and even as his life became more full, he was always willing to take some shots. Thank you doesn’t cut it, and I’ll be eternally grateful to my big brother, for without him, Centre Street would have been but a fleeting dream.
To my new photographer, who has allowed me to slowly get back into posting these past three years, her talent and friendship has been such a gift. I can’t wait to see what we come up with moving forward, the sky is truly the limit.
I truly believe the best is yet to come. I don’t know why I’ve held onto this space on the internet all these years, questioning each time the renewal was sent out. I’ve spent quite a bit of time perusing over the last ten years of work on Centre Street, and one thing remains true. I love fashion, love it. I love hosting my friends and family and creating experiences they’ll remember. I love sharing my make up tips and tricks with others, and I love the cathartic nature of baking, and eating it, obviously. So I journey on, in my most authentic, messy, human, perfectly imperfect way, I carry on. And I hope you’ll come along with me.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
H&M Hoodie, Zara Blazer, Lululemon Leggings, Marc Fisher Boots, Aritzia Superpuff
As I sit writing this post it’s currently snowing outside, and the temperature is dropping by the minute. While we’ve been blessed with a relatively mild winter, there have been stretches of temperatures that have dipped well below -20 Celsius. These photos were taken in such weather, and I wanted to document an ensemble that was both warm and fashionable, which seems like an oxymoron in the fashion sense. I had four layers on my top half, wool socks, a toque and mittens, because in -20 weather, exposed skin freezes my friends, and there’s nothing chic about that. I think fashionable warm weather wear has always been a struggle, and I’ve played into that over the years. I used to brave below freezing temperatures sans coat to be able to document a ‘winter outfit’, and then immediately bundle up afterwards. I feel like it started back in Junior High, where bundling up with toques and mittens and parkas wasn’t ‘cool’. I still see it all the time, kids walking home looking ‘cool’ possibly in the early stages of frostbite. Every year I get older I tolerate the cold less, and keeping warm has become of the utmost importance to me. Honestly, these days when the temperature is subarctic, you’ll find me donning my sleeping bag coat and winter boots, my fashion statement will be my toque.
Photos by Kiera Schussler
